Apparatus for handling flat end closure blanks for cartons



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APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FLAT END CLOSURE BLANKS FOR CARTONS Original Filed May 8, 1948 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 I Y 2669 9 t 67 INVEN 0R5 Isaac L..W\Lcox,F\u-"Reo A. ARNES CLARENCE E .Pmcm Rossax Swag H oRNEY Sept. 1, 1959 WILCOX ETAL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FLAT END CLOSURE BLANKS FOR CARTONS Original Filed May 8.1948

11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Nu R P R RS 08 TLT L. a E D E wa 5K L I x m m RE 8 4, L Y c a a n L BC United States Patent APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FLAT END CLO- SURE BLANKS FOR CARTONS Isaac L. Wilcox, Fulton, Alfred A. Barnes, Baldwinsville, and Clarence E. Patch, Syracuse, N.Y., and Robert Spurr, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Oswego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N .Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 8, 1948, Serial No. 25,944,

now Patent No. 2,692,463, dated October 26, 1954.

. Divided and this application August 31, 1954, Serial No. 453,364

13 Claims. (Cl. 93-551) This invention relates to apparatus for handling fiat end closure blanks for cartons.

More particularly, the invention has to do with apparatus which functions to remove flat blanks of sheet material successively from a supply magazine, advance a procession of the blanks to a discharge station and to transfer the blanks to an end closure forming and applying head.

The apparatus herein disclosed constitutes a part of a machine for automatically advancing a procession of open-ended cartons, filling the cartons and applying and sealing top closures to the cartons. That machine is disclosed in our prior Patent No. 2,692,463, issued October 26, 1954, and of which this application is a division.

The end closures handled by the specific embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, are formed from flat blanks of sheet fibrous material, such as paperboard, for application to cartons of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,470,984, issued May 24, 1949. In the arrangement of that patent, the end closure blanks and the cartons are pre-coated with a thermoplastic material and the blanks, while being advanced from the magazine supply to the discharge station, are subjected to heat to render the coating plastic.

This invention has as an object apparatus for automatically withdrawing flat end closure blanks successively from a supply, advancing the blanks in a procession in heat exchanging relation to a heater and transferring the flat blanks successively to a closure applying head, the blanks being maintained in substantially fiat condition during their advancement.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a complete machine for filling and closing cartons, the embodiment of this invention being shown in the upper right-hand part of the figure.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism for handling the end closure blanks, this view being an,

enlargement of the structure shown in the upper right portion of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 looking from the right to left in that view.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 3 looking from left to right.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4, with a part of the structure shown at the left in Figure 4 broken off.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 3, the view being taken on a line corresponding to line 66, Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a view taken on line 88, Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the sprocket supporting arm.

Figure 10 is a view taken on line 10-10, Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view taken on line 1111, Figure 7.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional View of the blank feed shown at the right, Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the end closure blank gauging mechanism.

Figure 14 is a view taken on line 1414, Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a view taken on line 15-15, Figure 13.

Figure 16 is an end elevational view of the end closure inserting and forming head and contiguous portion of the blank conveyor with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view in the lower portion of the head supporting housing 554 showing the actuating mechanism for the closing head aws.

As previously stated, the end closure blank handling apparatus of this invention is disclosed and described hereinafter as part of a complete machine which functions to advance a procession of open-ended cartons to fill the cartons during their advancement and to apply and seal top closures to the cartons. The end closure blank handling mechanism is positioned at the upper right-hand portion of the machine, Figure 1. The machine, in general, consists of a base 20 supported on feet 21. A cam housing 22 is mounted upon the base in which there is journalled a lengthwise extending cam shaft 24 on which there is mounted a series of cams for operating the various components of the machine in timed relation. 7

The cartons processed on this machine are square in cross section and are advanced from left to right, Figure 1, on guide rails 32, Fig. 4, supported by members 36 in the form of channel structures extending lengthwise of the machine and being supported from the base by mech anism, not shown, operable to adjust the rails 32 verti cally to accommodate cartons of different height. The cartons ahe advanced intermittently along the guide rails 32 by members 126. These members are mounted in spaced apart relation on rods and are formed with fingers 127, 128, 129, extending inwardly over the carton guide rails 32. There is a guide rail 32 positioned on each side of the machine, and the machine is provided with duplex apparatus for conditioning, filling and closing two advancing processions of cartons.

The rods 125 and the members 126 carried thereby have imparted to them a forward movement to advance the cartons a step forward. The rods are then moved out-j wardly to move the carton engaging fingers 127, 128, 129, laterally outwardly from the cartons. The rods are then moved rearwardly and thence inwardly over the guide rails 32. This rectangular movement imparted to the rods, and the carton engaging members carried thereby, results in the cartons being moved forwardly step by step. The mechanisms for imparting such movements to the rods is partially mounted in housings 134, 135, 136, Figure 1, and these housings are in turn mounted upon columns 130, 131, 132, extending upwardly from the base 20 on each side of the cam housing 22.

As the cartons are advanced forwardly, a portion of the upper edge of each carton is preserved by apparatus indicated at 290, at the upper left, Figure l. The cartons are filled by the apparatus indicated at 540 which is supplied with liquid, such as milk, by a. supply tank 548. This filling apparatus is mounted on a column 542 positioned on the cam housing 22.

' As the filled cartons are advanced to the right, Figure.

' 1, they are provided with top end closures which are fixedly secured to the cartons. This invention has to doonly with the apparatus for handling the flat blanks from which these top end closures are formed.

When the open-ended filled cartons have been advanced along the" guide: rails 32' to the position indicated at CS, Figure 1, the cartons C are elevated into closingheads, indicated generally 677, which function to formthe' flat end closure blanks into top closures and seal the same to the carton. These heads, see Figures 4, 5 and 16; consist of aframe-having a rear wall 750 and side walls 751.

A plate 752 is secured to the bottom of the head frame and is formed with a central square aperture. The upper surfaceof the plate 752 is recessed to receive four die sections 755. These sections make up a die having a cent-ral aperture complement'al to the interior dimension of the cartons. A blank guide plate 756 is positioned on top of the die section- 755 and is formed with a central aperture substantially larger than the aperture of the die plate. The die sections at one side of the head and the complemental side of the guide plate 756 are formed on their confronting surfaces with slots in which are mounted plates 761, 762, which extend laterally from the head. These plates 761, 762, are also slotted on their confronting sides, and the outer edges of the slots are beveled as at 755. This arrangement provides a funnel structure of rectangular formation through which the Hat end closure blanks may be pushed to be positioned upon the marginal surface of the die sections 755.

A plate 800is secured to the under side of the plate 572 and is spaced therefrom by spacers 801. The plate 800 i'sf'ormed with a central aperture in registration with the aperture of the plate 752. Four carton clamping jaws 804 are slidably mounted in the plate 808 for movement toward and from the center of the cartons and are guided in such movement by gibs 805 screwed to the plate 800. Each of the jaws 804 is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly extending lip 808 positioned to overlie the top edge of the carton when it is moved upwardly into the head. The jaws are moved toward and from the cartons by levers 810 operatively mounted in the head frame and actuated by mechanism controlled by the cam shaft 24;

With a flat end closure blank positioned on the die 755, a plunger 835 is moved downwardly to draw the flat blank through the die 755 into the upper end of the carton C. The plunger 835 is mounted on stem 836, to the upper end of which there is secured an eye member 837 by an adjusting sleeve 838 secured by jam nuts 839. The eye 837 is connected to the end 865 of a lever 879 pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 880 carried by the head frame. The opposite end of this lever is connected by links 882 to a member 881. secured to the upper end of a push rod, as by nut 883. The push rod is operated from the main cam shaft 24. At the endof this movement, outfolding fingers 849 carried by cross members 850 are moved outwardly to fold the upstanding marginal portion of the blank outwardly over the top edges of the carton. A series of downfolding. fingers 872 mounted on a member 862 slidably mounted in gibs 863 secured to the head frame, as by screws 871, move downwardly to fold the then laterally extending. marginal portion of the blank over the exterior top portion of the carton. During this movement, the jaws 804 have been moved outwardly. The folding fingers 872 are then moved upwardly, and the jaws 804 moved inwardly to compress the outer wall of the top closure channel portion against the carton. As will be explained hereinafter, the end closure blanks are coated with a thermoplastic material and previous to the insertion of the blank into the head, the head has been subjected to heat to render this material tacky so that it serves as a medium to seal the top closure to the carton.

, The downfolding fingers are actuated by a cross memher 875 secured toanother push. rod by a nut 876.

The cams mounted on shaft 24 are arranged to operate the cross member 875- and the links 879 in proper timed relation, and the heads include mechanism for operating the jaw actuating levers 810 in proper timed relation. This mechanism includes an arm 821 extending outwardly through a slot in the bottom structure of the heads and being Connected by links 822', see Figure 5, to a member 823. The member 823 has pivotal conmotion to an arm 825 secured to the upper end of. a.- shaft 826 journalled vertically in the housing 554,, see Figures 4, 5 and 1 7. The shaft 826 has aflixed to its lower end a gear quadrant 827 arranged in mesh with a similar quadrant 828 mounted on the upper end of a shaft 829. An arm- 830 is affixed to the lower end of the shaft and has: a roller 83L positioned in a. groove 832 in a" cam 833 mounted on the main shaft 24-. This arrangement imparts an oscillating movement to the shaft 826 to effect reciprocation. of the links 822 for actuation of the jaws 804.

The end closures are formed from flat blanks 614 arranged in stack formation in a tubular magazine 615. As each carton is positioned beneath the filling mechanism 540, a blank is withdrawn from the magazine 65, inserted in blank carriers ona; conveyor and conveyed through a heating oven 678. When the heated blanks reach a position inline with the applying head 677, they are transferred into the head and positioned upon the die 755 previously referred to.

A column 554' is mounted upon a cam housing. 20' and is formed at its upper end with a portion which projects laterally on either side, as at 555', see Figures 3' and 6. A bracket 556 is attached to each of the projecting portions 555'. These brackets serve as supports for housings 557. These housings are spaced outwardly from the column sections 555 to provide a space 558 in which the blank conveyors are mounted. The housings 557 are partially supported by tubular columns 559' errt'ending upwardly from the top of the base 20.

The blank conveyor consists of an endless chain structure trained over a pair of sprockets located in the space 5581 A shaft 560 is journalled in a boss 561 extending inwardly from the housing 557 at one end thereof. The inner end of the shaft 560 is provided with a cup-shaped hub member 562 encircling the boss 561 and on which. there is mounted a pair of sprocket wheels 563. The

sprockets 563 are mounted on a split hub 564, as by screws 565, the hub 564' being. thus clamped on the hub The outer end of the shaft 560 is provided with a gear 566 arranged in mesh with an idler gear 567 mounted on a stud 568 journalled in anti-friction bearings, one of which is mounted in the back wall of the housing, see Figure 11, and the other in a front plate 569 detachably secured to the front of the housing as by cap screws 570, the outer bearing being retained in the cover plate by a cap 571. The gear 567 is arranged in mesh with a gear 572' mounted on a stud 573 also journalle'd in bearings mounted in the back wall of the housing and the cover plate 569', the outer bearing being retained in place by a cap 574.

The gear 572 has afiixed to it a Geneva disk 575, see Figures 7 and 1 1-, the slots 576 of which are en-- gaged by a crank pin 5 77 carried by a crank arm 578 secured to the shaft 579. The shaft 579 is journalled in a bearing mounted in the inner wall of the housing 557 and in a bearing mounted in a cap 580 secured to a boss 581 formed on the cover plate 569.

The shafts 579 extend inwardly across the spaces 558 and into the sections 555 of the housing 554, see Figure 6. The inner ends of the shafts are coupled to a shaft 584- journalled in the upper portion of the housing: 554 by couplings 585. A gear 586- is secured on the shaft 584 and is arranged in mesh with a gear 587 secured on the upper end of a shaft 588 journalled vertically in bearings 589 in the housing 554. This shaft is provided at its lower end with a gear 590 arranged in mesh with a gear 591 secured on the main cam shaft 24. With this arrangement, the shaft 579 is rotated from the main cam shaft 24 and upon each revolution of the shaft 579, the Geneva sprocket 575 is indexed A; of a revolution, and the sprockets 563 are rotated A of a revolution through the gears 566, 567, 572.

The forward wall of the housings 557 is formed with a square aperture in which there is slidably mounted a stem 595 of a sprocket carrying arm shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. The forward portion of this arm is formed with spaced apart walls 596 from which studs 597 project laterally and which carry bearings 598, see Figure 11. A sprocket 599 is mounted upon each one of these bearings. The arm is yieldingly urged forwardly by a helical compression spring 600 mounted in a recess 601 formed in the stem portion 595, the rear end of the spring pressing against a pad 602 retained in place by a pin 603 extending transversely of the arm through slots 604 and secured in the forward wall of the housing. A chain 605 is trained over corresponding ones of each pair of sprockets. The purpose of the spring 600 is to maintain the chain 605 taut.

At spaced intervals, the chains 605 are provided with lugs 607 to which are secured blank carrying members. These members consist of sheet metal stampings having depending sides 608 connected by transversely extending parts 609. The side portions 608 are secured at each end to the lugs 607 by pins 610. The apertures in like ends of the side pieces 608 are formed with elongated slots 611. A blank engaging member 612 is secured to each cross member 609. These blank carrying members are somewhat Zshaped in cross section-that is, the outer edges of the members are formed with blank receiving notches 613 and these notches are arranged in confronting relationship so that the members 612 frictionally receive opposite edges of the blanks 614. The purpose of the elongated slots 611 is to accommodate the difference in spacing between the lugs 607 as the carriers travel around the sprockets 563, 599, see Figures 7 and 8.

As previously stated, the flat end closure blanks 614 are arranged in stack formation in the magazines 615 which are mounted on supporting rods 616 extending upwardly from the forward end of the housings 557 at an angle of approximately 45. The blanks are successively withdrawn from the magazine 615 and deposited snap fashion between the pairs of blank carrying members 612 by a reciprocating blank feeder 617 provided at its upper end with a suction cup 618 of rubber, or like material. The feeder 617 is slidably mounted in bosses 619, 620, constituting part of the sprocket supporting arm shown in Figure 9. These bosses are arranged intermediate the sides 596 of the arm and are apertured to permit the feeder 617 to slide parallel to the axis of the magazine 615, see Figures 7 and 8. The feeder 617 is actuated by a cam 622 mounted on the shaft 579. The periphery of this cam engages a roller 623 mounted on an arm 624. This arm is journalled at its upper end on a stud 625. The lower end of the arm is pivotally connected to a link 626, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a member 627 clamped to the feeder stem 617 intermediate the bearing bosses 619, 620. Upon rotation of the cam 622, the feeder is thus caused to move the suction cup 618 upwardly into engagement with the lowermost blank in the stack, as indicated by the dotted outline, Figure 12, and then downwardly to the full line position shown in that figure.

It will be observed that the feeder member operates between the chains 605 and also between the transversely extending parts 609 of the blank carriers. In this downward movement, opposite side edges of the blank 614 engage the outer edges of the carrier 612, causing the center portion of the blank to flex downwardly. This reduces the crosswise dimension of the blank, permitting the side edges of the blank to enter the hatches 613 of the member 612. That is, the blank is inserted in the carrier 612 snap fashion.

It will be understood that the arrangement of the Geneva drive 575, 578, and the cam 622, is such that the blank feeder 617 is operated during the dwell period of the conveyor chains 605. When the feeder is in the down position, as indicated in Figures 8 and 12, the chain conveyor may be actuated or indexed to advance the blanks.

The suction cup 618 is secured to the upper end of the stem 617 by a screw 630. This screw is apertured in registration with an aperture 631 extending axially of the stem 617, see Figure 12, the lower end of the aperture being connected to a fitting 632 which, in turn, is connected by a hose or flexible conduit 633 to a source of vacuum. Thestem 617 is also formed with a lateral aperture 634 communicating with the aperture 631 and extending radially outwardly through the clamp member 627. This clamp member is formed with a boss 635 which is formed with a bore extending parallel to the stem and with which the aperture 634 communicates. The lower end of the bore is provided with a valve seat 636 to receive a ball check 637 normally held in engagement with the valve seat and thereby closing the same by a helical compression spring 638, the upper end of which presses against a closure plug 640.

The bottom boss 620 is formed with a lateral projection 641 carrying a threaded stud 642 arranged in register with the aperture in the valve seat 636 and adjusted so that when the blank feed stem 617 is in down position, the stud 642 raises the ball check 637 off from the seat 636. This arrangement connects the passage 634 to atmosphere and brakes the vacuum. When the stem 617 is moved upwardly by the cam 622, the ball check 637 is seated on the valve seat, shutting off the connec tion to atmosphere and providing vacuum to the suction cup at the time it engages the lowermost blank 614 in the magazine. Thus, the blanks are successively withdrawn from the magazine 615 and deposited in the blank carrying members.

The magazine 615 is in the nature of a rectangular tube to accommodate the rectangular blanks 614 and is provided with a door 645 on its upper side to permit the magazine to be conveniently loaded with blanks. The magazine tube is secured to a casing 646 formed With apertures to receive the supporting rods 616 which are carried by a bracket 647 formed with a depending flange 648 overlying the forward portion of the housing 557. This flange is formed with a plurality of elongated apertures 649, see Figure 2, to receive mounting screws 650 threaded into the housing. With this arrangement, the bracket 647, and the magazine 615 carried thereby, can be adjusted lengthwise of the blank conveyor chains so that the bottom of the magazine can be arranged in proper alinement with the blank carriers 612.

The magazine tube is slightly greater in cross sectional dimension than the blanks, so that they will feed freely to the bottom of the magazine tube by gravity. The under side of the magazine tube is formed on its inner surface with a pair of spaced apart ribs 651, see Figures 3 and 8. Opposite side walls of the magazine tube are formed with ribs 652 which extend a distance upwardly from the lower end of the tube. A rib 653 is also provided on the inner surface of the upper wall below the door 645. The ribs 652, 653, are of tapered formation, the thickened end of the ribs teminating in proximity to the lower end of the tube, see Figure 8. The inner surface of the door 645 is provided with a straight rib 654. The ribs 651, 654, serve to reduce the frictional engagement of the blanks with the magazine tube to a minimum, whereby they will freely move downwardly in the tube. The purpose of the tapering ribs 652, 653,-

7 are o accu ately enter o position' he blank a e. discharge end of the magazine.

' The blanks are supported in the magazine by horizontally extending members 65 mounted. on. he inn r surface of the top of the upper. and; lower Walls of the tube at the bottom end thereof. Preferably, the members 6.55- are formed on their confronting surfaces with QQves 656, see Figure 12, to minimize the possibility of withdrawing two blanks at a. time from the, magazine by the suction cup 618, as previously explained.

The blank conditioning mechanism includes means for stopping the operation of the machine. in the event more than one of the blanks 614 is withdrawn from the magazine by a single. operation. of the blank. feeder 617. The bracket 147 is formed with a box portion open on the side, and the top, these openings being provided with. clo

sures. 658,, 659, respectively. A switch 666 is mounted in the box and is connected. the holding circuit of a relay which effects closing of a starter for the main driving motor of the, machine, and "which effects rota: tion of the main cam shaft 24. The contacts of the switch 660 arenormally closed, the switch being actuated to: open position by an arm 664, see Figures 7 and 14, mounted on a shaft 665 journalled in the side walls of the switch box and extending through the inner wall of the box and being provided; at it inner end with an arm 667. The arm 667' is located in. the space 658 in which th conveyor chains, travel, the arms 66.4, 667 both extending-rearwardly; The free. end 668 of the arm 667 offset inwardly toward the. adjacent sprocket 599. and. P081: tioned over an anvil 6169; extending inwardly from. the inner wall of the. switch box, see Figure 14. The arm 6167 is yieldingiy urged downwardly toward the anvil by tension spring 670, the end 668: of the arm being. main-- tained in spaced relation above the anvil 669 the thicle ness of one blank 614. by an adjustable stop screw 671 threaded into the bottom wall of the switch box and en! gaging the free end of the arm 664. The arrangement is such that the side portion of each of the blanks 614 passes between the anvil 669 and the end 668. of the arm 667. If there is one blank in the holder 612, no movement is imparted to the arm 667 and therefore, no movement is imparted to the arm 664. However, if two ormore blanks are positioned in one holder, the arm 667 is moved upwardly by the additional thickness of the second blank, rocking the shaft 665 and moving the arm 664 upwardly. This arm carries in its central portion an adjustable switch contact screw 672 which engages the actuating button of the switch 660, effecting a separation of its contacts, thereby opening the circuit to the holding relay, permitting the motor starter to open the power circuit to the driving motor and thus stop the machine. This affords the operator an opportunity to remove the excess blanks from the, holders. The switch 660 is preferably of the type that must be reset manually, and the top closure 6.59 is provided with a reset button 673.

The upper run of the chains 605 travel rearwardly or to the left, Figures 2, 7 and 9, through a horizontal pas; sage 675, the rear end of which communicates with an arcuate passage 676' and as the blanks leave the passage 676' and reach the position indicated at T, Figure 8, the blanks are transferred from the carriers into the forming and applying heads 677. The blanks 614 are coated, at least one their upper sides when stacked in the manazine 615, with a thermoplastic material. As the blanks are advanced from the magazine toward the station T, they are moved in close proximity to a heater 678 se-. cured to a casing 679 which, in turn, is secured to the end. of a shaft 680 extending transversely of the machine. The shaft 680 extends through a housing 996 mounted on the front wall of the column 555. Mechanism is arranged in the housing 996 for oscillating the shaft 680. to swing the heater housing 678 to vertical position, s hown in. F gure 7, if h m chine is stopped- This. is.

8; to move the hea r 67.8 o t of h at. excha ging r l i n o the blanks 614 so that they will not be over-conditioned, or damaged, while the machine is stopped,

The. hea er .7 may be of a y s i able con tru ion... As shown, the heaters, are provided. with heating elements 6,8,3 and. there is also a heating element. 6.3.2 arranged the arcuate passage 676. The function of the heaters 678. are to heat and condition the blanks and the coatings thereon so that the blanks may be subsequently formed into. end closures and sealed to the tops of the cartons. The heaters 678 also function to; stearilize the closure blanks.

The. machine includes means operable tov prevent with. drawal of a blank 614 from the magazine 615. in the event a carton is absent in the. procession being advanced bythe carton advancing member 125. As previously ex-. plained, the suction cup 618 is moved upwardly into en gagement with the lowermost blank in the. magazine 615. by a cam 622 actuating; the lever 624, Figure 8.

In normal operation, the blank feeder is operated upon each revolution of the shaft 579. In the event there is no carton. in the advancing procession to receive a top closure, a pin 684, Figure 6, slidably mounted in the. bracket 556, is moved into the path of a projection 585 carried by the arm 624 when the suction cup 618 is in; its lowermost; position. The, arm 624 is moved to the right, F g e. 8.. to a t t he can feed r by t e spring.- 686. l i i I l I 1 The pin 684 is moved into the path of; the arm 624 by a solenoid 687, Figures 6 and 11, located in the hous ing The sol noid, wh n energiz perable to. m ve he p n 684.- outwar ly' fr m the col mn. .4, he P n b n yielding v main aine in. e her; he in or out: position by a detent 6S8. mounted in the bracket 556. The pin 684 is moved inwardly or reset each revolution of the cam 622 by a cam surface 689 formed on the. inner side of the cam 622, see Figures 6 and 11. The solenoids 687 are energized by carton detectors arranged in juxtaposition to the guide rails 32. These detectors; are engaged by each carton advanced in the procession and, in the absence of a carton in the procession, the detectors effect energization of the relays 687. The arrangement is such that the blank holder 612 arriving in position over the blank space of the procession of cars tons will not have a blank positioned in it. The specific. structural arrangement and functioning of this carton detecting mechanism is specifically disclosed in the Patent No. 2,692,463, previously referred to.

As each blank holder 612 arrives at the position T, Figure 8, that is, in registration with the carton at the closing station indicated CS, Figure 1, the blank in the holder is transferred into the closure forming and apply-v ing head 677 by being pushed from between the holders by a bar 777 mounted on a carriage 778. movable upon fourrollers 779 operating in grooves 780 formed in car-v riage guide members 769, 770, see Figures 7, 8 and 16.

The carriage 778 actuated by a cam 781, Figures 2, 3 and 6, is mounted on the lower end of a shaft 782. journalled vertically in the boss 783 depending from the boss 581. The upper end of this shaft is provided with a gear 784. arranged in mesh with a gear 785 mounted on the shaft 579. An arm 786 is journalled intermediate its ends on a stud 787 depending from the under side of the housing 557. One end of this arm is provided with a roll 789 engaging the periphery of cam 781. The, opposite end of the arm is connected to one end of a link 790, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to. the carriage 778. The lever 786 is actuated to move the carriage inwardly to push the blank out of the carrier 6.12 and into the head by a torsion spring 791 secured at one end to a stud 792 depending from the lever and secured at its upper end to a stud 793 carried by a bracket 794 secured to the under side of the bracket 556. The carriage is positively returned by the cam 781. It will be understood. that the, 781 is operable to permit oscillation of the lever or arm 786 during the dwell period of the blank conveyor and also while the operating parts of the forming and applying head are in a position to permit insertion of the blank between the die plate 755 and the'guide plate 756. At this time, a carton is positioned below the head to receive the end closure. As previousy explained, when the blank 614 arrives at the station T, its side edges are positioned in the guide blocks 772, 773. While the blanks are held be tween the blank carriers 612, the blanks are bowed slightly in a direction lengthwise of the conveyor chain. However, as the side edges of the blanks are moved between the guide blocks, the blanks are thus flattened out for ready insertion into the head 677.

What we claim is:

v 1. A conveyor movable over an endless path for advancing a procession of flat fibrous blanks comprising a series of flat blank carriers, each of said carriers including a pair of blank supporting members extending transversely of said path and arranged in parallel spaced apart relation, the confronting surfaces of said supporting members being formed with grooves to frictionally receive opposite side edges only of a blank inserted between said'members.

2. Mechanism for handling fiat end closure blanks for cartons including an endless succession of blank carrying members, each of said members comprising a pair of blank supporting members extending in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges only of ablank inserted between said supporting members, means operable to intermittently ad- Vance said blank carrying members to a blank insert station and thence to a blank discharge station, a blank feeder arranged at said insert station and operable to insert blanks in said blank carrying members, and a blank transfer arranged at said blank discharge station and movable transversely of said blank carrying members and operable to remove blanks from said carrying members.

3. Mechanism for conditioning flat fibrous blanks comprising an endless series of blank carriers, each of said carriers including a pair of blank supporting members arranged in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges only of the blanks, a blank insert station, means for supporting a supply of fiat blanks at said insert station, means operable to advance said carriers from said insert station to a blank discharge station, a blank feeder at said insert station and operable to successively withdraw blanks from said supply and insert the same in said carriers respectively, and a blank discharge means at said discharge station and operable to transfer blanks from said carriers.

4. Apparatus for forming end closures from fiat blanks of sheet material and applying the same to the ends of cartons, comprising means for supporting a supply of flat blanks, an end closure forming and applying head, an endless series of blank carriers, each of said carriers comprising a pair of blank engaging members extending in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges only of a blank inserted between said members, motion transmitting means operable to intermittently advance said blank carriers from said supply to a blank transfer station, a blank feeder operable to withdraw blanks successively from said supply and insert the same in said carriers respectively, means arranged at said transfer station and cooperable to arrange blanks in said carriers in flat condition, and a blank transfer member at said transfer station operable to transfer the blanks from said carriers to said forming and applying head.

5. Apparatus for handling end closure blanks including means for supporting a supply of fiat blanks, a blank conveyor having a pair of spaced apart blank engaging members adapted to frictionally engage a blank inserted between said members, means located on one side of said conveyor for supporting a supply of fiat blanks, andblank. feeding means located on the opposite side of the con.-

veyor and operable to withdraw a blank from said supply and insert the same between said members.

6. Apparatus for handling end closure blanks including means for supporting a supply of flat blanks in stack formation, an endless succession of blank carrying members, each including a pair of spaced apart blank engagaing members adapted to frictionally engage a blank inserted between said members, blank feeding means,

movable perpendicular to said blank engaging members and operable to withdraw blanks successively from said supply and insert the same between said blank engaging members, and blank transfer means operable transversely of said succession to slide the blanks transversely out of engagement with said blank engaging members.

7. Apparatus for handling end closure blanks including means for supporting a supply of fiat blanks in stack formation, an endless succession of blank carrying members, means operable to intermittently advance said blank carrying members to a blank insert station and thence to a blank discharge station, each of said members including a pair of blank engaging members extending in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges of a blank inserted between said members, a feeder, means operable to reciprocate said feeder between the blank engaging members of each pair in a direction perpendicular thereto, said feeder being operable upon reciprocation to withdraw the lowermost blank from said stack formation and insert the same snap-fashion between the members of said pair.

' 8. Conveyor means for advancing a procession of flat blanks through a heating zone, comprising an endless flexible member, a plurality of pairs of blank supporting members mounted on said flexible member, the blank supporting members of each of said pairs being formed on their confronting sides with a groove to receive and frictionally engage opposite edges of a blank, a blank feeder arranged at one end of said zone and operable to feed blanks successively into said supporting members, and a blank transfer member arranged at the opposite end of said heated zone and movable transversely of said flexible member and operable to slide the heated blanks out of said supporting members.

9. Apparatus for forming end closures from fiat blanks and applying the same to the ends of cartons, comprising means for supporting a supply of flat blanks in stack formation, a forming and applying head operable to form a fiat blank fed therein into an end closure and to apply the same to a carton, an endless succession of blank carriers, each of said carriers comprising a pair of blank supporting members extending in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges of a blank inserted between said members, a blank feeder, means operable to reciprocate said feeder between said stack formation and the blank supporting members of each pair, said feeder being operable upon reciprocation to withdraw the lowermost blank from said stack formation and insert the same snap-fashion between the supporting members of said pair, a blank transfer operable to slide the blanks from the carrier members into said head, and motion transmitting means for operating said feeder and advancing said succession of carrying members in timed relation.

10. Apparatus for forming end closures from flat blanks and applying the same to the tops of cartons, comprising means for supporting a supply of flat blanks in stack formation, a forming and applying head operable to form a flat blank fed therein into an end closure and to apply the same to a carton, an endless succession of blank carriers, each of said carriers comprising a pair of blank supporting members extending in parallel spaced apart relation and adapted to frictionally engage opposite side edges of a blank inserted between said members, a blank feeder, means operable to reciprocate said feeder mitting means for operating said feeders advaneingsaid succession of carrying members in timed relation,

11. Apparatus for forming end closures from flat, blanks of sheet material and applying the same to: the. n of r ns pr sing. mean tor supporting a. p y fiat blanks in ta k formati n, an. end. cl su forming, n pp y he d. an d es s ries of bla k carri r each of a c rrie s e rnpr s ng. a pair of. blank upp members. ex ending. in paralle sp ed p rt relation and adapted to frictionally engage oppositeside dg s only f a bl nk nse ted be w en-sa d membe a, blank feeder operable to withdraw blanks successively from said stack and insert the same. into said.v Carriers p i y, n a l nk. tr nsf r rn ans. op r le. to.

'25 for ming, nd. cl ures. fromiflat,"

t a sf r ks mm said arriers to th forming and applying head.

12. Apparatus blanks of sheet material and applying the samejto the.

nd of ns omp ing means. for-s ppo t ng a; snpply'. flat n a en Q $U 6fQ T 1 1lg an pn y ngl e d an endless series of blank carriers, each qfj-said carriers comprising a p o bla k nppqrting memb rsextend+ ng in p r e pa e part r l tion. and. dapted to frictionally engage. the side edges of a blank. insertedbetw en d m mb rs. act ing mechan m; oper ble int rm en y d an e sa d carri rslfrom. said. supply 12 said head. a b k e r perab e t withdraw. blanks successively iromsaid supply and insert the same in said carriers respectively,with the end portions of saidblanks extending laterally from the carriers, 2, blank transfer means operable to, transfer blanks fromjsaid carriers to said forming and applying head, blank gauging means arranged in juxtaposition to said series ofblank carriers intermediate said supply and said. head,,and being e0: operableif any. carrier contains two or more blanks to. render said actuating means inoperable.

13-. Apparatus for forming end closures, from flat blanks comprising means for supporting a supply of flat blanks, a forming head, an endless series ofj'blank carriers, actuating means operableto advance said carriers from said supply to said head, a blank feeder opelable to successively Withdraw blanks, from said supply and p sition the sam in sa d a rier resp e ively,, ank, g u ing. means arranged to vbe engaged by opposite sides of the b an s. advanc d. y aid'oar r said. ran meansv being o per b e t ren er s id a tuati g e ns. p r b e t o r mor blanks. a e p siti eda y o aid ar i r References Cited in the'file of this, patent;

' v UNITED-STATES PATENTS 1,442,953- Keho e. Jan. 23, 1923' 1,959,321 Adams. May 22;, 1934. 2,134,116, Florcyk Oct. 2 5, 1938 2,401,511 Rue. June 4, 1 946 2 4 7,938. Kr e e Mer- 2 1.947. 2,550,616. S p no "Apr. 24,1951 2,551,476. Vantlander May 1, 19.51; 2,604,826] Palmer July 29 19,52; 2,661,1 i 

